Mist in the Mirror

An inveterate traveller, Sir James Monmouth has spent most of his life abroad. He arrives in England on a dark and rainy night with the intention of discovering more, not only about himself but his obsession with Conrad Vane, an explorer. Warned against following his trail, Sir James experiences some extraordinary happenings - who is the mysterious, sad little boy, and the old woman behind the curtain? And why is it that only he hears the chilling scream and the desperate sobbbing?

Dolly: A Ghost Story

At Iyot Lock, a large decaying house, two young cousins, Leonora and Edward, are parked for the summer with their aging spinster aunt and her cruel housekeeper. At first the unpleasantness and petty meanness appear simply spiteful, calculated to destroy Edward's equanimity. But when the spoiled Leonora is not given the birthday present of a specific dolly that she wants, affairs inexorably take a much darker turn with terrifying, life-destroying consequences for everyone.

The Man in the Picture

A mysterious depiction of masked revellers at the Venice carnival hangs in the college rooms of Oliver's old professor in Cambridge. On this cold winter's night, its eerie secret is revealed by the ageing don. The dark art of the Venetian scene, instead of imitating life, has the power to entrap it. To stare into the painting is to play dangerously with the unseen demons it hides, and become the victim of its macabre beauty....

The End of Temperance Dare: A Novel

When Eleanor Harper becomes the director of a renowned artists' retreat, she knows nothing of Cliffside Manor's dark past as a tuberculosis sanatorium, a "waiting room for death". After years of covering murder and violence as a crime reporter, Eleanor hopes that being around artists and writers in this new job will be a peaceful retreat for her as much as for them.

The Haunting of Ashburn House

There's something wrong with Ashburn House. The ancient building has been the subject of rumours for close to a century. Its owner, Edith, refused to let guests inside and rarely visited the nearby town. Following Edith's death, her sole surviving relative, Adrienne, inherits the property. Adrienne's only possessions are a suitcase of luggage, 20 dollars, and her pet cat. Ashburn House is a lifeline she can't afford to refuse. Adrienne doesn't believe in ghosts, but it's hard to ignore the unease that grows as she explores her new home.

The Widow's House

When Jess and Clare Martin move from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to their former college town in the Hudson River valley, they are hoping for rejuvenation - of their marriage, their savings, and Jess' writing career. They take a caretaker's job at Riven House, a crumbling estate and the home of their old college writing professor. While Clare once had dreams of being a writer, those plans fell by the wayside when Jess made a big, splashy literary debut in their 20s. It's been years now since his first novel.

A Haunting: The Horror on Rue Lane

Fleeing a troubled past, Sarah Faust has found the perfect place to begin a new life. Tucked away on a charming side street and surrounded by lush grounds, the neglected 300-year-old townhouse in the port city of Charleston offers a refuge and a place to start over. But all is not as it seems at Five Rue Lane, and she soon finds that her new house harbors something that has been there for a very long time. Something that refuses to stay buried.

The Folcroft Ghosts

When their mother is hospitalized, Tara and Kyle are sent to stay with their only remaining relatives, their grandparents. It's their first time meeting May and Peter Folcroft. The elderly couple seem friendly at first, and the house, hidden in the base of the mountains, is full of nooks to explore.

This House Is Haunted

When she arrives at the hall, shaken by an unsettling disturbance that occurred during her travels, she is greeted by the two children now in her care, Isabella and Eustace. There is no adult present to represent her mysterious employer, and the children offer no explanation. Later that night in her room, another terrifying experience further reinforces the sense that something is very wrong. From the moment Eliza rises the following morning, her every step seems dogged by a malign presence that lives within Gaudlin's walls.

A Winter Haunting

A once-respected college professor and novelist, Dale Stewart has sabotaged his career and his marriage - and now darkness is closing in on him. In the last hours of Halloween, he has returned to the dying town of Elm Haven, his boyhood home, where he hopes to find peace in isolation.

The Eaton

Spanning over 100 years of mid-Michigan history, The Eaton tells the story of Sam Spicer, a young entrepreneur who purchases the dilapidated Michigan Central Railroad Depot in Eaton Rapids with the dream of opening a hot new martini bar. But when he and his friends discover an abandoned underground hotel directly beneath the property, they must discover what happened to the original guests—before their own time runs out.

Burnt Offerings: Valancourt 20th Century Classics

Ben and Marian Rolfe are desperate to escape a stifling summer in their tiny Brooklyn apartment, so when they get the chance to rent a mansion in upstate New York for the entire summer for only $900, it's an offer that's too good to refuse. There's only one catch: behind a strange and intricately carved door in a distant wing of the house lives elderly Mrs. Allardyce, and the Rolfes will be responsible for preparing her meals. But Mrs. Allardyce never seems to emerge from her room, and it soon becomes clear that something weird and terrifying is happening in the house.

Whispering Corridors: A Ghost Story

College students Eric and Lydia are looking for a novel way to spend Halloween. They decide to put together a documentary about the supernatural and take a camcorder into the long-abandoned house on Kenwood Drive. It's said that a vengeful spirit lives there, and Lydia thinks it the perfect location. Eric, though, has his reservations. Having grown up in the area, he's familiar with the stories of the spirit they call the "Upside-Down Man", and as their trip to the house draws near, his fear begins to mount.

I'm the King of the Castle

Charles Kingshaw and his mother have come to live with Edmund Hooper and his father  in their ugly, isolated Victorian house called Warings  for good. To Hooper, Kingshaw is an intruder, a boy to be subtly persecuted, and Kingshaw finds that even the most ordinary objects can be turned by his enemy into a source of terror.In Hang Wood, when they are lost, their roles are briefly reversed but Kingshaw knows that Edmund will never let him be and that he cannot win in the end.

The Elementals

After a bizarre and disturbing incident at the funeral of matriarch Marian Savage, the McCray and Savage families look forward to a restful and relaxing summer at Beldame, on Alabama's Gulf Coast, where three Victorian houses loom over the shimmering beach. Two of the houses are habitable, while the third is slowly and mysteriously being buried beneath an enormous dune of blindingly white sand. But though long uninhabited, the third house is not empty. Inside, something deadly lies in wait.

The Amityville Horror

In December 1975, the Lutz family moved into their new home on suburban Long Island. George and Kathleen Lutz knew that, one year earlier, Ronald DeFeo had murdered his parents, brothers, and sisters in the house, but the property - complete with boathouse and swimming pool - and the price were too good to pass up. This is the shocking true story of an American dream that turned into a nightmare beyond imagining for the Lutz family, who were forced to flee their new home in terror.

Father of Lies: A Darkly Disturbing Occult Horror Trilogy Series, Book 1

Ruby is the most violently disturbed patient ever admitted to Drummersgate Asylum, high on the bleak moors of northern England. With no improvement after two years, Dr. Jack McGowan finally decides to take a risk and hypnotizes her - with terrifying consequences. A horrific dark force is now unleashed on the entire medical team, as each in turn attempts to unlock Ruby's shocking and sinister past. Who is this girl? And how did she manage to survive such unimaginable evil?

Publisher's Summary

Late one summer evening, antiquarian bookseller Adam Snow is returning from a client visit when he takes a wrong turn. He stumbles across a derelict Edwardian house, and compelled by curiosity, approaches the door. Standing before the entrance, he feels the unmistakable sensation of a small cold hand creeping into his own, ‘as if a child had taken hold of it’.

At first he is merely puzzled by the odd incident but then begins to suffer attacks of fear and panic, and is visited by nightmares. He is determined to learn more about the house. But when he does, he receives further, increasingly sinister, visits from the small hand.

Like The Woman in Black by the same author, this is a ghost story that is told efficiently and believably, with credible characters. Makes you wonder what you would do if faced with the same spooky circumstances. It's not a long book - under 4 hours, which is makes it enjoyable to get through in a reasonable amount of time. A nice interlude between longer reads. Very well read by the narrator.

This was an interesting enough story told by an author who knows how to spin a yarn. It concerns a modern day antique book dealer and ivory-tower type pursuits, which might appeal to some listeners and leave others less intrigued. It was mildly creepy, and maybe could have used a little more angst. But, it wasn't overly long, and I was always curious about what was behind the Small Hand.

What made the experience of listening to The Small Hand the most enjoyable?

The narrator's voice was the most enjoyable part. He told the story so well ,and you could almost feel the emotions he was feeling.

What did you like best about this story?

The ending. I finally learned what the entire story was about and why it happened. I did not guess ahead of time what the ending would be so I really enjoyed that. Susan Hill can build tension in a story very well.

Which character – as performed by Cameron Stewart – was your favorite?

The main character was my favourite. He was easy going and easy to relate to. He is a very straight forward man . It was very refreshing hearing this story from his perspective

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, when he was left the country and went to visit the monastery in the hope of buying the book he was going to view. The eerie moments he had when he was there and the spiritual moments he spent talking to the monks,esp when he told one of them what was happening with him, how he felt he was being haunted.

Any additional comments?

This was a very good book to listen to. I do prefer The Woman In Black but this was very very good too.

Probably, but not soon. The suspense wouldn't be quite the same knowing the end of the story. In a few months or a year then even knowing the ending I could move along with the emotions and tension of the story. I seldom buy an audio book that I don't think would be a good story to listen to over and over.

What did you like best about this story?

Susan Hill is a good writer, her narratives describes the emotion of the scene, the characters and action without being pendantic. The suspense, of course, was there especially since it is a ghost story.

Which scene was your favorite?

The peacefulness of his visit to the library at the Monastary. I could almost smell the old books. The characters excitement and awe at the old books he was show was palpable.

If you could take any character from The Small Hand out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I think either of the librarians, I like the idea of discussing the existence of the old and rare books and the chance of new discoveries. The sister-in-law, with her calm manner would also be a good dinner companion.

Any additional comments?

Glad to have it part of my audio library. All of Susan Hills books are well written and the complexity of her characters is what makes listening to them again worthwhile because there is always a new aspect or emotion to be heard.<br/><br/>The narrator, Cameron Stewart, was also excellent. His voice quality is easy to listen to, easily understood (his accent isn't so heavy that is blurs the actual words) and conveys just the right amount of tension and emotion without being overly played.

I wanted to like this book. The description of the story peaked my interest. But not far into the first few chapters, I found myself getting annoyed. The author spends so much time detailing the main character's occupation, I had almost forgotten what the story was about. I went back to read the summary thinking I had, perhaps, bought the wrong book. There just wasn't enough about the ghost to keep me engaged. At the point where the author begins doling out crumbs about the ghost, I had already guessed the ending. A very predictable and lack-luster ending. To make matters worse, the narrator's cadence is better suited for documentaries. A waste of time!

As stories go this was not the most exciting I have ever heard, and I'll probably not listen to it again. I'm not sure if it is the actual story or the narrator that I had problems with although it might be that both combined to make a drab listen. At times the narrator seemed to have an almost monotone to his voice, whilst the story was like being hand lead through a bowl of rather thick porridge. Small is the right word for this listen, small excitement, small plot and small interest are rather on the generous side.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Kaggy

United Kingdom

2/9/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Another great ghost story"

I love Susan Hill ghost stories and this is a very good one. I love the fact you can listen to this in one sitting and thus maintain the atmosphere. Dim the lights, close the curtains and prepare to enjoy yourself.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Karen

Gravesend, United Kingdom

10/31/11

Overall

"Not Susan Hills best"

I absolutely adore The Woman In Black by Susan Hill so I downloaded this in great anticipation
I made the mistake of not noticing it was only a three hour or so audio (I prefer at least a 10 hour one) but never the less I thought its Susan Hill its still bound to be great . However for me it was a disappointment. There were parts of the story that were built up to be relevant ( like the trip to the monastry) only to turn out just to be a means to an end. Yes it was supposed to be a ghost stort but it had none of the tension & atmospheric punch of T W I B Waste of a credit for me I,m afraid

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Mandy Tout

UK

5/21/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"A perfect ghost story"

So beautifully read - 5 stars not enough. Hard to say much without a spoiler, but there is nothing better than a garden gone wild to unnerve the listener.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

jill middlemas

1/11/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Awesome little story"

Very sppooky and kept you guessing i keep missing the end as i keep falling asleep but thoroughly enjoyed it so far

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Kindle Customer

NUNEATON, WARWICKSHIRE United Kingdom

5/24/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Atmospheric"

Where does The Small Hand rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is a good ghost story, but predictable. I could guess what might happen next but it was well put together with an excellent narrator who really brought the characters to life. So I would rank it easily in my top 10 ghost stories.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending was some what predictable, so I wasn't especially astonished. However it was an ending that gave the story a sense of closure and left you feeling satisfied.

What does Cameron Stewart bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I thought Cameron Stewart was an excellent narrator who really put an effort into giving each character their own personality and bringing them to life.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Parts of the book were particularly spooky and did make you wonder if what Adam was experiencing was real or just a part of his imagination.

Any additional comments?

It would have been better if there were sound effects added.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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